All beings are endowed with the infinite
energy that is the source of life itself,
and which we call by different names, both religious and secular.
Forging a conscious connection to this ultimate
reality is an innate part of the
human drive for meaning, wholeness, and fulfillment.
Deepening that connection can enhance
our innate capacity for
wisdom, kindness, love and other universal virtues.
No single tradition, philosophy or faith
is the only way to describe or
satisfy this basic drive for profound meaning and higher purpose.
Imagine a world in
which these principles guide not only our personal lives but social
and
political policies as well.
We of the Forge Institute—spiritual
leaders, teachers and practitioners from a wide range of paths—believe
that such a world is possible if we reach across the boundaries
of belief, ethnicity and nationality to tap the sacred source
that unites us all. Standing on that firm foundation, we can
address our collective problems by harvesting the best resources
of all systems of knowledge—spiritual, technological and
scientific—while recognizing that no one
perspective contains all the truth for all cultures, times and
conditions.
We invite people from all corners
of the world to affirm the above principles and pledge to realize
the following moral imperatives:
Acknowledge and treat as sacred the
interconnectedness of all
living beings to each other and to our beloved planet.
Build relationships, families and communities that
foster complete human development in every domain of life.
Enlarge our circle of concern, expanding
what we think of as “I” and “we”
to embrace the well-being of others as part of our own well-being.
Stand firm in favor of religious and spiritual
freedom—
and against religion-based coercion or violence.
Form governments that rise above
partisan ideologies to creatively address our needs for
security and prosperity while also protecting freedom, health and
the environment.
Develop our capacity, individually
and together, to
bring these commitments into reality.
We humbly urge you to join us in a sincere and determined effort to develop initiatives, both public and private, that boldly address our common challenges.
